Self-propelled combination harvesting and threshing machine



Oct. 3l, 1950 s. c. HETH sELF-PRoPELLED COMBINATION HARvEsTING ANDTHRESHING MACHINE 9 She'ets-Sheet l Filed May 31, 1946 Oct. 3l, 1950 s.c. HETH 2,528,275 SELF-PROPELLED COMBINATION HARvEsTING AND IHRESHINGMACHINE Filed May s1. 194e 9 sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 3l, 1950 s. c. HETH2,528,275

sELF-PRoPELLED COMBINATION HARvEsIING AND IHRESHING MACHINE Filed May31, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 A Trae/M5154 Oct. 3l, 1950 HETH i 2,528,275

S. C. SELF-PROPELLED COMBINATION HARVESTING AND THRESHING MACHINE FiledMay 51, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 M @UI/5.

octal, 195o 2,528,275

AND THRESHING MACHINE Filed May 31. 1946 Oct. 31, 1950 s. c. HETH2,528,275

SELF-PROPELLED COMBINATION HARVESTING AND THRESHING MACHINE v Filed May31, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 H 29 Y' t o le j n/ 7 HEDER LIFT hewn/e @UWMOct. 3l, 1950 s, Q HETH 2,528,275

SELF-PROPELLED COMBINATION HARVESTING AND THRESHING MACHINE Filed May31, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 3l, 1950 s. c. HETH 2,528,275

SELF-PROPELLED COMBINATION HARVESTING AND THRESHING MACHINE Filed May.'51, 1946 `9y Sheets-Sheet 8 IN VEN TOR. THEM/WV HET/V Oct. 3l, 1950 s,Q HETH 2,528,275

SELF-PROPELLED COMBINATION HARVESTING AND THRESHING MACHINE Filed May31, 194.6 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented ct. 3l, 1950 SELF-PROPELLEDCOMBINATION HARVEST- l ING AND THRESHING MACHINE' Sherman C. Heth,4Racine, Wis., assignor to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application Itiayl 31, 1946, Serial N0.'673,557

2 Claims. l This invention relates to a. self-propelled combinationharvesting and threshing machine or so called, combina One of thegeneral objects of the invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of a machine of this character, doing this in such a way,

as to makeit easier and more economical to manufacture the machine,enhance its performance and efliciency in the eld, and adapt it to readyand easy control by a single operator.

One of the important objects of the invention is to provide an improvedheader auger construction, one which is efficiently operable through thefull width of the header auger trough to bring the harvesiad material tothe center, while at the same time, feeding the material rearwardlyunder the auger so as to insure its delivery to the feed rake whichextends from the center of the bottom of the auger through to theentrance ol' the threshing machine.

Massing or accumulation of material in the auger trough, overloading ofthe header auger, or spilling of the material therefrom cannot occur.Rapid and efficient feeding of the cut material from the auger trough tothe feed rake is insured and the feed rake isso constituted, organizedwith the other instrumentalities and so driven that the load is on thelower r-un of the feeder rake which is kept taut.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a new andadvantageous running and steering gear construction one which is simple,rugged, and durable in character and lends itself to ready control bythe operator.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide novel and4advantageous driving and control mechanism for the operatinginstrumcntalities of the header and ofthe threshing machine, thepartic-ulars of which will hereinafter be fully described and claimed.In this respect the power delivered by theengine or power plant isdivided, a suflicient component going to the wheels, which propel themachine, and the other going, after the manner of a power take-off, orlaterally, to the instrumentalities of the header and threshing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a threshing machinehaving a grain carrier rake of novel and advantageous construction andoperating characteristics.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel means forsupporting, and raising and lowering the header, one which is yieldableor cushioning in character to take -up operating shocks and support theheader in field operations so that its hinged or pivotal connectionswill be relieved of excessive or destructive strains.

Another object is to utilize in a, novel manner in the organization andbuild-up of a self-propelled combine mechanisms manufactured under highproduction conditions so as to provide in a self-propelled combine,mechanical parts of high quality and reliability without excessive cost.

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of platform andcontrols for a self-propelled combine.

These objects of the invention and other ancillary advantages areattained by the mechanism, construction, and arrangement illustrated inthe accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a, view, partly in longitudinal vertical section and partlyin elevation, somewhat diagrammatic in character, showing aself-propelled combination harvesting and threshing machine embodyingthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking at the iront or head end of themachine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view looking at one side of theheader and illustrating the reel, header auger, and sickle drives;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View illustrating chain and sprocket gearingutilized for driving the various instrumentalities of the threshingmachine,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the forward endof the machine and especially the driving mechanism employed by theengine for driving the front Wheels and also the operating mechanism forthe gearing incorporated in this driving mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation with parts removed, ofthe front wheel driving gear illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View in top plan showing the way in whichthefeed rake is combined with the auger and auger trough and alsoillustrating the feed rake drive and the drives for the reel and headerauger;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic layout illustrating the drive lines between theengine or power plant and the instrumentalities of the header andthreshing machines;

Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal cross section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 5showing the way in which the power is taken from the engine shaft anddelivered to the driving mechanism for the ground wheels and theinstrumentalities of the header and threshing machine;

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical cross section taken online Ill-I0 of Fig.6;

Fig. 11 is a View in side elevation showing the way in which the V-beltpulley drive is combined with the variable speed selective transmission;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view partly in top plan and partly inhorizontal cross section illustrating the differential and the reductiongearing em- Dloyed between the sleeve shafts of the differential andalso illustrating diagrammatically, the brakes combined with thedifferential to facilitate power steering of the machine;

Fig. 13 is a detailed view partly in side elevation, and partly inlongitudinal vertical cross section, showing the power operated meansfor raising and lowering the header and supporting it at variousadjustments;

Fig. 14 is a detailed view partly in horizontal cross section in theline I4-I4 of Fig. 13, and partly in top plan showing the reversing gearemployed to serve the means which raises and lowers the header;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view in top plan showlng the hand operatedsteering gear;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view showing only one of the rearsteering wheels, of which two are, of course employed, and illustratingthe way in which both are mounted and controlled;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line II-Il of Fig. 16;

Figs. 18 and 19 are fragmentary sectional views taken on lines a-a andb--b respectively of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line c-c of Fig. 5.

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION Referring to the drawings, and especially to Fig.1, it will be seen that a self-propeller combine embodying the presentinvention comprises generally, a main frame or chassis C supported atits front end by power driven ground wheels W and at its rear end by apair of steering wheels W (see also Figs. 15 and 16 for the steeringgear).

A vertical frame-work or superstructure comprising principally fourvertical posts or columns P, preferably of angle iron and suitablybraced and cross connected, is supported on and secured to the membersof the frame or chassis C. The posts or columns P serve to support aseparator and threshing machine M in a cantilever fashion and alsoprovide support for a grain receiving bln B.

A header H is adjustably supported on the forward posts P and isequipped with a reel R, a sickle S, a header auger A, and a feed rake F.

An internal combustion engine E is provided for propelling the machineand for driving the instrumentalities of the header H and of theseparator and threshing machine M, and is supplied with fuel from a tankT, Fig. 6.

The header The header is shown to advantage in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusiveand 7. The upper and rearward end of the header is pivotally supportedon the forward end of the threshing machine so that its lower end whichcarries the sickle S and reel R may be raised and lowered with respectto the ground. The header H is raised and lowered by rotating a shaft 2which has crank arms 3 (only one of which is shown) connected by links 4with the header H (see Figure 1). As shown in Figs. 1 and 13, the shaft2 has an actuating crank arm fixed thereto. A reversing gear set 6 (seeFigs. 13 and 14) drives a screw 1` a in either direction or allows thesame to remain stationary depending upon the adjustment of its jawclutch 5a.

The gear set 6 is enclosed in a housing or gear box 8 rockably supportedon the frame or chassis C ln any suitable way, as for example by meansof bearings 8a and 8b carried by the frame and co-acting respectivelywith trunnions Bc and 8d projecting from the sides of the gear box. Thepower input shaft Be for the gear set 6 extends through the sleeve-liketrunnion 8c. The shaft 8e drives the intermeshing beveled gears of thegear set 6 and is itself in turn driven from the engine E in a mannerwhich will be hereinafter more fully described.

Shaft 8e is driven through a combination sprocket and safety clutch 8factuated by a chain 8g. Fig. 8, driven from a sprocket 8h on fan shaft|68.

The screw 1 extends through a guide 9 disposed within and pinned as at 9to an elongated hollow or sleeve shaft II and meshes with a nut I0 alsodisposed within and pinned as at I0 to the shaft. The shaft II ismounted for fore and aft movement, but is held against rotation. One endof the shaft I I is slidably intertted with a protecting and guide sleveI2 carried by the housing 8 of the gear set 6. The opposite end of theshaft II has a yieldable or cushioning driving connection with theactuating crank arm 5, the yieldable or cushioning driving connectionbeing designated as a whole at I3. The drivingy connection I3 comprisesa compression coil spring I4 having one end abutting a plate I5 disposedwithin the shaft I I and fixed thereto. The other end of the springengages a sliding plate I6 fitted for sliding movement in the shaft I I.The plate I6 is centrally apertured to receive the shank of a headedbearing pin I'I. The head of the bearing pin I1 is provided with aconcave recess interengaged with a driving pin I8 which also passesthrough elongated slots I9 in the shaft II and is in driving connectionwith the actuatlng crank arm 5. By shifting the jaw clutch 6a in onedirection, the header may be lowered whereas by shifting clutch Ea inthe other direction the header may be raised; and by shifting the clutch6a. in its intermediate or neutral position, the selected adjustment ofthe header is maintained by the screw and nut mechanism 1, 9 and I0. Theheavy shocks and impacts imposed upon the header in field operations areabsorbed by the spring I4 and its hinged or pivotal connections arerelieved of excessive or destructive strains. Also shocks due to theinstantaneous engagement of the jaw clutches are absorbed by the springI4.

The header auger The header auger A, Figs. 2, 3 and '7, which is ofnovel and special construction, operates in a suitable auger trough 25incorporated in the structure of the header.

The flights or blade-like convolutions 26 and 2'! of the auger A are redto a common shaft or axis 28 rotatably supported at its ends in suitablebearings provided therefor on the header as illustrated diagrammaticallyat 29 in Fig. 7. The flights 26 and 21 are oppositely pitched, that is,they have left and right hand leads respectively so as to feed thematerial delivered to the trough from the ends thereof to the centerthereof (see Figs. 2 and 7) Although other arrangements arecontemplated, it has also been found advantageous to have one set offlights approximately 180 'ahead cf the other. The augery functions notonly to feed the material from the vends tol thecenter of the augertrough, but also feeds it t the auger will be intercepted by incomingmaterial being impelled by reel R., and so preventedv from being lostout of trough 25. v

under the auger. AThe meeting ends of the flights 25k and 21 at thecenter of the auger are of special construction and are specially andadvantageouslyinter-related. They overlap in an open fashion and arepreferably not Ajoined together or joined to any other element. It hasbeen found advantageous to have the flights overlapfor a` distancelengthwise ofthe auger equivalent to approximately 25% ofthe diameter ofthe auger. It has also been found advantageous to have the pitch of theauger substantially equal to 'its'.`

diameter. With such a construction, massing or accumulation of materialin the auger trough,

nights' has beenv described as the preferred arrangement, it is notintended to limit the present disclosure to such construction, but it iscontemplated that the nights may be terminated for example in the sameaxial plane in front of the feed rake,"but preferably spaced apart so asto avoid presenting a closed V-shaped pocket to the material which isbeing fed under the auger. Similarly the flights may be terminated indifferent axial planes butnot overlapped within the contemplation of theinvention. Stripper bars 26a and 21a extend forwardly from auger trough25 into proximity to flights 26 and '21 respectively and serve toprevent winding of material around the auger in well-known manner. Thematerial being prevented from rotating, being constrained to movelongitudinally toward the feed rake` F.

AThe feed rake feed deck 34 incorporated in thev header construction andextending from approximately the center portion of the auger trough tothe entrance of the threshing machine or separator M.

The harvested material is fed upwardly beneath the feed rake in themanner disclosed in the application of Norman R. Krausev and Sherman CiHeth, Serial No. 438,014, filed April 9, 1942, nowabandoned, with theexception that, in the above application the feed rake is substan-'tially entirely enclosed within the feeder house except for an openingin the side for admitting the auger. In the present instance the feederhouse is of necessity open at the front. The upper run of feed rake F isof course `running downwardly toward auger A, and in order to minimizeor eliminate any tendency for the auger to throw out of the machine anyprematurely threshed grain or other material, for example travelingdownwardly with the upper portion of rake R, a hood or baille 34a isextended forwardly from auger trough 25 over auger A in the region offeed rake F and has a stri-p of yieldable matelrialA 34h approaching asclosely as practical to nights 26 and-21. Any material stripped fromrake F by auger A and thrown upwardly will be Vintercepted'by hood 34aand directed back into 4 The threshing machine The casing ss ortnthreshmg machine M may be of any suitable construction and aspreviously indicated its forward end portion isY secured toAandrsu/pported by the posts orjolu lns"' vl2,. ,\ivhile :the majorportion thereof oveivhags ,the chassis C after the manner of acantilev', although aux-f iliary supporting elements may be extendedbethe contemplation of the invention.

The threshing machine M (see Fig. 1) embodies in its construction acylinder I6, concave 31, beater 36,' straw rack 39, shaker screens 40,fan 4I, grain auger 42, and tailings auger, alli-of any standard orsuitable construction.l also embodied in the threshing machine is agrain carrier .rake designated generally at 45 and of v tween casing 35and chassis C if desired, within special construction. The grain carrierrake 45- carries the grain, fragments of straw, tailings, etc., comingpredominantly through concave 31 rearwardly on one pass and also carriessimilar materiall coming through straw rack 39 forwardly on the otherpass. The grain carrier rake (see Figs. 1, 18 and 19) comprisesna pairof endless chains 46 cross connected by slats 41 and trained aboutdriving sprockets 48 and driven sprockets 49. The'portion of the lowerrun of the grain carrier rake 45a which extends rearwardly from thedriving sprockets 48 to a point overlying the forward ends of the shakerscreens 40 travels along and over a smooth imperforate sheet metal plate50 while the portion of the upper run of the carrier rake 45 whichextends forwardly from thedrlven sprockets 49 to a point overlying theAforward ends of the shaker screens 40 travels over a smooth imperforatesheet metal plate 5|. With this construction the material fallingthrough the grain carrier rake and onto the plate 50 will be carriedrearwardly and delivered to the shaker screens 40 while material fallingfrom the straw rack 39 onto the plate 5I will be carried forwardly anddelivered to the shaker screens 40.

Running gear and vehicle propulsion mechanism is manipulated by means ofa conventional hand lever 58. It is incorporated in the drive linebetween the engine E and the front axles 55 and is securelybolted orotherwise fastened to the frame or chassis C.

The engine shaft 6B is coupled as at 6| '(see Fig. 9) to an extensionshaft 62 rotatably sup' ported invbearings 63--63 provided therefor in.the end closure 64 of the flywheel housing 64a The splined end 65 ofthe shaft of the engine. 62 is operatively interconnected with anddrives a variable speed belt and pulley gearing designated generally at66 and of the type employing expansible cone-likepulleys and acooperable V-belt of the edge-active type (see Figs. 5, 6, 9 and l0).The belt and pulley gearing in turn drives the input shaft 51' of thevariable speed transmission 51. The 'transmission 51 acts the auger. Anymaterial thrown forwardly by through a differential 61 and reductiongearing 7 68 to drive the front axles 55 on which the front wheels W aremounted and secured.

An important advantage arises out of the arrangement just described inthat engine E, transmission and axle 51, its housing and accompanyingparts such as differential 61 and brakes |56, are preferably identicalwith corresponding parts of a tractor, suitable parts being selectedfrom the tractor production line and altered as necessary to adapt themto their new environment, as will further appear. The gearing and othermechanism can thus be of much better grade than would otherwise bepossible in an inexpensive machine such as a combine.

Variable speed V-belt and expansive cone pulley gearing The belt andpulley gearing 66 shown to advantage in Figs. 5, 6, 9 and 10 comprisesupper V driving pulley members 10 and 1|, lower V driven pulley members12 and 13 and an edgeactive V-belt 14.

The pulley members 10 and 1| have hubs 15 and 16 splined on the portion65 of the shaft extension 62 and also have mating cone disks 11 and 18integral with their respective hubs 15 and 16.

The driving pulley member 1| is chambered as at 19 to accommodate, incertain relative axial adjustments of the pulley members 10 and 1|, aloose ring or sheave 80 on which the belt 14 rests in the neutralposition of the belt and pulley gearing 66. The loose ring 80 isdisposed between the pulley members 10 and 1| and is mounted on theportion 65 of extension shaft 62 by means of a ball bearing assembly 8|so that while the loose ring 80 may not shift axially with respect tothe shaft extension 62, the rotation of the shaft extension 62 will notbe imparted to the loose ring 80. To accomplish this purpose, the innerrace of the ball bearing assembly 8| is fixed to the shaft extension 62,the outer race is iixed to the hub of the loose ring 80 and the ballsinterposed between the races provide for the desired capacity for freerelative rotary movement as between the loose ring and shaft.

The portion of the pulley member 1| defining the chamber 19 is providedwith oil drainage passageways 82 to prevent access of oil to belt 14 andimpairment thereof.

An oil retainer 83 is provided between the inner end of the hub 15 ofthe pulley member 10 and a cap 83a bolted or otherwise fixed to aportion of end closure 64.

A shifter 84, preferably of cap-like construction, is mounted on the hub16 of the pulley member 1| so as to constrain the hub 16 and pulleymember 1| to move axially with it along the portion of shaft extension62 while allowing the hub 16, pulley member 1| and the shaft extension65 to rotate freely relative to it. This is accomplished by interposinga ball bearing assembly between the shifter 84 and the hub portion 16 ofpulley member 1| with the inner race member fixed to the hub, the outerrace member secured to the shifter, and the balls between the racesproviding for the desirable relative rotation.

The driven pulley members 12 and 13 have hubs 86 and 81 splined on theinput shaft 51' of the transmission 51 and also have mating cone diskportions 89 and 90 integral with their respective hubs 86 and 81. 'I'hedriven pulley member 13 is chambered as at 9|. A ring or annulus 92integral with the disk 89 of pulley member 12, telescopes into thechamber 9| and bridges the 8 space between the inner peripheral edges ofthe cone shaped portions of the disks 89 and 90 in all relative axialadjustments of the disks. The chambered portion within annulus 92 isprovided with oil drain passageways 93.

A shifter 94, similar in construction to the shifter 84, is combinedwith the hub 86 of disk 89 by means of a ball bearing assembly 95 so asto be capable of positively shifting the hub 86 and its integral disk 89axially in either direction while leaving the disk 89, hub 86, and shaft88 free to rotate relative thereto.

A shifting lever 96, Figs. 5 and 6, is fulcrumed at its lower end asindicated at 96' on the transmission housing 51. Adjacent its upper endthe shifting lever 96 is provided with a yoke formation 91 (see Figs. 5and 6) which straddles the shifting cap 84 and is pivotally connectedthereto by virtue of the provision of trunnions 98 fixed to andprojecting laterally from the cap 84 and interfltted with aligned pivotopenings provided in the opposite sides of the yoke 91. A hand lever |00conveniently manipulable by the operator is connected to the upper endof the shiftlng lever 96 as will appear so as to control the rate ofmovement of the combine and is rigidly connected with a rack portion |0|extending through a detent plate |0|a fixed on a guard rail |0|b. rack|0| providing a plurality of downwardly open notches |0|c engaging plate|0|a for holding rack 0| in selected positions. A special notch |0|dwhen engaged with the plate results in a neutral or non-moving conditionof the combine. Rack |0| is connected to a lever |0|e by means of apivot |0|f, lever |0|e being fulcrumed on a tubular or other suitablepivot |0|g bolted or otherwise fixed to brackets |0|h and |0|i. Lever|0|e actuates, through a push rod |0|j pivoted thereto at |0|k a link|02 pivoted to an ear |03 on lever 96, link |02 being pivoted todownwardly extending lever arm |03a rigid with a rock shaft |03b havinga second downwardly extending arm |03c to which push rod |0|: ispivotally connected. A second shifting lever |05 has its upper endfulcrumed at |06 to a bracket |06a stationary part of the machine. Thelower end of the shifting lever |05 is bifurcated as at |01 and has theforks or arms of the bifurcated end notched as at |08, and embracingtransversely aligned trunnions |09 fixed t0 and projecting laterallyfrom the shifting cap 94. A link ||0 has one end pivotallyinterconnected as at to an intermediate portion of the shifting lever 96and its other end slidably and yieldably interconnected to anintermediate portion of the shifting lever |05 as indicated at |2 (seeFig. 20) so as to co-ordinate the action of lever |05 with the action ofthe lever 95 and consequently coordinate the action of the lower drivenpulley members 12 and 13 with the action of the upper driving pulleymembers 10 and 1|. As seen in Fig. 20, link ||0 slides through a block||2a which has a trunnion |2b pivotally engaged with lever |05, theblock being urged to the right in Fig. 20 by a spring ||2c in thepresent instance compressed between the block and lock nuts ||2d on link||0. Spring ||2c serves to urge levers 96 and |05 continuously towardeach other so as to tend to close up the pulleys and keep belt 14 at apredetermined tension throughout the normal range of driving speeds.However, when it is desirable to stop the forward travel of the combine,lever 9, through the action of the hand lever |00, is moved to the rightthereby moving pulley member 1| away from member 10 and Mts,...

c. i 't 2,598,275

causing belt 14 to run on a smaller r,ee'ctive diameter. At the sametimeslink moves lever so as to shift pulley mernber 12 toward mein, n

pulley member 1| further away from member` so that belt 14 drops ontoring 80 which, as above described, remains stationary, members 10 and 1|continuing to rotate without. driving belt 14. To avoidA dragging ofmembers 10 and 1| on belt 14, ring 80 is provided with a centeringgroove 80a with which belt 14 engages under these conditions. l

Reverse motion of lever |00 allows members 10 and 1| to frictionallyengage the edges of belt 14 and start'the combine, the belt slippingmomentarily while overcoming the inertia but then driving at the desiredspeed under control of lever |00.

When the speed of travel is to be reduced, it is necessary to compresspulley members 12 and 13 which may require substantial force, due to thewedging tendency of the working belt to force them apart. Spring I |2cis so proportioned that it will close up completely after limitedmovement of lever 96 if lever |05 does not move, and further movement oflever 96 actuates lever |05 positively through link ||2 and the nowunyielding spring.

Variable 'speed selective type transmission, differentz'al and reductiongearing drive ,for fnont wheels As shown in Figs. 5, 11 and 12, and aspreviously indicated, the driven pulley members 12 and 13 are splined onthe input shaft 51 of the selective variable speed transmission 51.Reduction gearing ||5 transmits the power from the input shaft 51 to themain drive shaft I I6 of the transmission. The transmission includes thestandard change speed gears I I 1 controllable by gear shift lever 50and also has a pinion ||9 meshing with and driving the master gear |20of the differential 61.

The adaptation of tractor parts to the present invention applies totheshaft I I 6 in transmission 51. vIn use in a tractor, shaft ||6 isextended to the rear as a power take-off shaft, while for combine use,with the addition of the reduction gear ||5 it becomes the main powerinput shaft as stated.

Steering pear A special mounting is provided for the rear steeringwheels W. As shown in Fig. 16 the rear end `of the chassis C is equippedwith two parallel cross channels |25 and |26 rigidly fastened to themain side members of the chassis C by means of rivets |21 and gussetplates |28. Longitudinally aligned bearings |29 and |30 are provided onythe cross channels |25 and |26. A supporting shaft or tube I3| isfitted in said bearings for rotative movement about its longitudinalaxis. Suitable collars pinned or otherwise fixed to the shaft |3Iprevent axial movement thereof while permitting free rotation about itslongitudinal axis. The rearward end of the supporting shaft I3I projectswell to the rear of the rearward cross channel |26 and its rearwardextremity is securely fastened to the central portion of the rearbearing |43. A cotter pin |4t` limits upward dis- W' mounted onrthelstubaxles-133,

main axle |32 and braced in its connection therewith by braces |32'. Therear axle assembly of the machine is of the standard type commonlyemployed at the front of automotive vehicles of the passengerA or trucktype having the usual rear wheel drive.` This main axle |32 isinter-connect-f led with the bifurcatedi ends fof the usualgstubaxlesbythe usual kingpins |34 so tagt the wheels' ,f'befwung for steering.lThe stu'gbaxlespge"lntenconnected by the standard tie rod |35 and arms|35'. An f ably interconnected with the rearward end of .a drag link|31. The forward end of the drag |40 and pivotally inter-connected withthe for ward end of the drag link |31 while its opposite if end iswelded or otherwise fixed to the central portion of the base bar |39. Afulcrum pin |42 (see Fig. 17) is welded at its upper end to theintersecting portions of the base bar |39 and central bar |4I and isrotatably fitted in a sleeve bearing |43 provided therefor and mountedon and welded to supporting brackets |44 carried by and welded to thecross channel |25. A washer |45 is interposed between the underside ofthe central bar |4I and the upper end of the sleeve placement of thefulcrum pin |42. Steering cables |41 and |46 are connected to the basecorners oi' the triangular lever |38, and reeved about suitablypositioned guide pulleys |49 and 1' connected to the ends of a sprocketchain |50 (see Fig. 15). The sprocket chain |50 meshes with a sprocketwheel |5| fixed to a shaft |52 in turn driven by chain and sprocketgearing |53 from a steering shaft |54 equipped at its upper end with asteering wheel' |55.

To further facilitate steering and especially sharp turning, footoperated brake assemblies |56 are interposed between sleeve shafts |56'driven from the differential 61 and the reduction gear sets 68 (see Fig.12). Foot pedals |51, Figs. l5 and 6, within convenient reach of theoperator when he occupies seat |58 are provided to control the clutchand brake assemblies. Suitable links and levers |59 operativelyinter-connect each foot pedal `|51 and its respective brake assembly |56so that pressure on either pedal will cause application of the brake onthat side of the combine and assist materially in steering in thatdirection. In this manner sharp turns may be made with ease, and workingin small fields is greatly facilitated.

When it is desired to run at relatively high speed, as for example onthe highway, such individual operation of the brakes is ordinarily notdesirable, and the two pedals |51 may then be latched together by alatch I59a engaged with a bracket |59band engageable with a bracket |59cto lock the pedals to move in unison. Actuation of either pedal thenoperates both brakes as will be understood.

Drive gear for the header and threshing machine The engine E is utilizedalso as the source of power for driving the various instrumentalities ofthe header and of the threshing machine. For this purpose a shaft |60(see Fig. 9) is extended laterally and horizontally from the shaftextension 62 and is driven therefrom by bevel gearing |6I. The shaft |60is supported for rotation in bearings |62 provided therefor in asupporting housing |63 bolted to a gear casing |64 forming part of endclosure 64 which is in turn bolted to and supported on flywheel housing64a. An additional supporting arm |63' integral with the housing |63 andsuitably supported on the frame of the machine is employed forsupporting a belt tightener as will appear.

A drum-like driving pulley |65 is fixed to the portion of the shaft |60which projects beyond its housing. A belt |66, Figs. and 6, is reevedabout the driving pulley |65 and also about a driven pulley |61 xed tothe fan shaft |68. A belt tightener is provided for the belt |66 and maytake the form of an idler pulley |69 engaged with the belti|66 andcontrolled as to position by a hand lever |10. For this purpose abovementioned bracket |63' carries a pivot |10a on which is journaled abifurcated lever arm |b on which above mentioned idler |69 is rotatablysupported. Lever |10b is controlled from above mentioned lever |10 bymeans of a linkage generally designated as |1|. Lever |10 is fixed on arock-shaft or tube |1|a and having a downwardly extending arm |1|bpreferably bifurcated and enclosing a spring |1|c as best seen in Fig.5. Spring |1|c is secured to a cap |1|d adjustably xed on a rod |1|epivoted at |1|f to above mentioned arm 10b. Spring |1|c is engaged witharm |1|b as by means of a hook and pin connection |1|g. Forward movementof lever |10 as seen in Fig. 5 will therefore cause backward movement ofarm |1|b and tensioning of spring |1|c. This will cause movement of rod|1|e to the left and swinging of lever arm |10b in a clockwise directionabout pivot |1011, pressing idler |69 against belt |66. A convenientcontrol of the threshing machinery is thus provided, belt |66 beingloose enough so that pulley |65 rotates freely Within the belt withoutdriving, in the absence of pressure from idler |69. A spring |1 h,

Fig. 6, pulls idler 69 away from belt |66 when permitted by lever |10.The latter has a quadrant |1|z provided preferably with a single notchengaged by a detent |1|7' so that lever |10 has only one engagedposition. With lever |10 in this position, cap |1| d is adjusted totension spring |1|e for the desired tension in belt |66 whereby thistension will be automatically attained and maintained whenever lever |10is latched, without special attention on the part of the operator.Furthermore, it becomes impossible to over-stress belt |66 so long asspring |1|c is correctly adjusted, since the ultimate pressure is afunction of the spring pressure.

Pulley |65 is provided with anges as |65a, Fig. 9, to prevent belt |66from running off of pulley |65 when it is not driving.

Pulley |65 is provided with an additional groove |12, for driving a binunloading auger. A belt |12a extends upwardly to a pulley |12bactuating, through a clutch |120 a shaft |13 connected in drivingrelation to an unloading auger |14 within above mentioned bin B. Auger|14 Works Within a spout |14a extending from bin B and having anextension |14b in position to overhang a receiving vehicle. Bin B maytherefore be unloaded into a truck or the like while the combine ismoving, or the combine may be stopped beside a receptacle and unloaded,whichever is most l2 convenient. The capacity of auger |14 is ample tounload the bin regardless of the additional grain being delivered intoit by elevator |82.

Motion is transmitted from the fan shaft |68 to the instrumentalities cfthe threshing machine and of the header. A convenient way for thetransmission of this motion is by means of chain and sprocket gearing.Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 8 it will be seen that chain andsprocket gearing |15 is provided to drive the cylinder 36 from the fanshaft |68. Chain and sprocket gearing |16 is provided to drive thebeater 36 and also through a slip clutch |11, a shaft |18. The shaft |18in turn drives the sprocket chains 30 of the feed rake F. The beatershaft 38 acts through chain and sprocket gearing to drive the tailingselevator drive sprocket |8|, a tailings elevator |8|a, Fig. 1, ofWell-known form being extended along the side of threshing machineportion M and actuating above mentioned tailgs auger 43. Elevator |8|ahas a spout portion |8|b discharging into a hopper |8|c carried by awall of feeder house H and having an outlet or tailings conducting spout|8|d directed so as to discharge the tailings into the space between theruns of feed rake 30 or on top of the ascending run 30 of rake F. Inthis manner is avoided any difficulty from throwing out of the openfront of the feeder house material which might be engaged by thedescending run 30 of the rake F. This arrangement and hood 34a assisteach other in preventing loss of grain.

Above mentioned chain 8g also drives a sprocket |8|e, Fig. 8, which isconnected through a shaft 42a with and drives above mentioned grainauger 42 and which drives in well-known manner a clean grain elevator|82.

The driven shaft |83 of the feed rake F is utilized through chain andsprocket gearing |84 to transmit motion to the reel shaft |85. Thedriven sprocket 85a of chain and sprocket gearing |86 is provided with acrank pin 81. The crank pin |81 drives a pitman |88 which acts through abell crank |89 to reciprocate the cutting blade |90 of the sickle S.

Sprocket |85a is fixed on the extension of shaft or cove portion 28 ofauger A so that rotation of sprocket 85a drives auger A. It will now beapparent that all the instrumentalities of header H are driven throughfeeder rake F. This is advantageous for the reason that feeder house Hswings up and down about shaft |18 which maintains its positionrelatively to shaft |68, while shaft 32 maintains its spacing from shaft|18. In this manner no difficulty is experienced from interference withchain tension by reason of height adjustments of header H. Also aconvenient means of transmission of power to the chain gearing |84 and|86 is provided in spite of the fact that they do not line up withclutch sprocket |11. Furthermore, the additional load on sprockets 32,maintains a desirable tension in the lower run 30 of feed rake F so thatit will not be forced away from deck 34 by the pressure of materialbeing conveyed upwardly thereon.Y

The manner in which the propulsion and steering of the machine iscontrolled has been previously described. The control of theinstrumentalities of the header and of the threshing machine is alsounder the convenient control of the operator by simple manipulation ofthe hand lever |10 which applies or relieves the belt |66 of tension andthereby effects the drive of the ian shaft |68 or allows the same tostand at rest.

Shiftingof clutch 6a for raising and lowering header H is accomplishedby rocking a foot Ipedal |91 suitable link connections of well-knownform extending to the clutch and shifting it in response to rocking ofthe pedal. Rocking the pedal in one direction causes the header to riseand rocking the pedal in the other direction causes the heag'er tolower.

Whil'fI have shown and described one construction in which the inventionmay be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood that theconstruction shown has been selected merely forthe purpose ofillustration or example, and that various changes in the size, shape,and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a self-propelled combine including a header portion and a thresherportion, an engine mounted on the combine, a running gear for thecombine, threshing mechanism associated with the thresher portion and amotion transmitting connection from the engine to the threshingmechanism, a drive for the running gear including spaced flangedexpansible driving and driven V belt pulleys, a V belt on the pulleysnormally engaging the flanges thereof, manually controlled means forsimultaneously expanding one and contracting the other of said pulleys.and an auxiliary sheave journaled within the driving pulley in positionto receive and support the V belt at such times as the driving pulley issulciently expanded and said sheave having a belt receiving groovehaving margins spaced inwardly from the flanges in the expanded positionof the pulley and into which said belt enters 'so as to be guided andprevented from slidingly contacting with the rotating driving pulley insuch expanded position in spite of continued rotation o1 said pulley.

2. In a self-propelled combine including a header portion and a thresherportion, an engine moun'd on the combine, a running gear for thecombine, threshing mechanism associated with the thresher portion and amotion transmitting connection from the engine to the threshingmechanism, a drive for the running gear including spaced expansibledriving and driven V belt pulleys, a V belt on the pulleys, manuallycontrolled means for simultaneously expanding one and contracting theother of said pulleys including lever arms associated with the pulleysand a manually operable connection from said manually controlled meansto one of the lever arms, a connection from said lever arm to the otherlever arm including a spring, expansible for exerting yielding pressureagainst said levers for compressing both pulleys to maintain desiredbelt tension and said spring comprising a series of coils and spaces,said spaces being so proportioned as to render said si :ng compressibleto the solid condition to provide a positive connection from saidmanually operable connection to said other lever arm.

SHERMAN C. HEIH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille o!this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,198,445 Horacek Sept. 19, 19161,323,502 Thomas et al. Dec. 2, 1919 1,914,839 Thoen June 20, 19331,977,312 Knapp Oct. 16, 1934 2,170,573 Pierson Aug. 22, 1939 2,212,465Baldwin Aug. 20, 1940 2,310,577 Everett Feb.l9, 1943 2,318,409 Millardet al May 4, 1943 2,336,002 Everett Dec. 7, 1943 '2,378,615 Brown June19, 1945

